• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.83-92
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• 2012

This paper suggests an improved method of grouping minterms based on the Decimal-Valued Matrix (DVM) method. The DVM is a novel approach to Boolean logic minimization method which was recently developed by this author. Using the minterm-based matrix layout, the method captures binary number based minterm differences in decimal number form. As a result, combinable minterms can be visually identified. Furthermore, they can be systematically processed in finding a minimized Boolean expression. Although this new matrix based approach is visual-based, the suggested method in symmetric grouping cell values can become rather messy in some cases. To alleviate this problem, the enhanced DVM method that is based on multi-level groupings of combinable minterms is presented in this paper. Overall, since the method described here provides a concise visualization of minterm groupings, it facilitates a user with more options to explore different combinable minterm groups for a given Boolean logic minimization problem.